The lawyer of Madeleine McCann suspect Robert Murat today launched an astonishing attack on the missing girl’s parents. Francisco Pagarete accused Kate and Gerry McCann of “strange” behaviour for leaving the three-year-old alone in their holiday apartment.

He also claimed that locals in Praia da Luz now just wanted “these bloody McCanns” to leave Portugal and return to Britain.

As the 100 th day since Madeleine disappeared approaches, police are still waiting for the results of tests on traces of blood recovered from the wall of the McCann’s holiday apartment.

Robert Murat is expecting to be officially cleared of any involvement after weeks as the only official suspect in the case.

His lawyer Mr Pagarete said today: “As a Portuguese person I think it is strange that somebody would leave their kids.

“Then, after the first thing happened, they left their twins and went to see the Pope. It was like the McCanns on tour.

"When I was small and always running around, my parents had me on a leash so I could not run away.

"It's not attacking the McCanns in any way, but it's not the normal thing to do."

Mr Pagarete stressed that this was his "private opinion" and had nothing to do with his involvement in the case. "It has nothing to do with the way I feel or Robert Murat feels," he added.

Mr Pagarete also told reporters: "People in Praia da Luz say 'These bloody McCanns should just go away and leave this town. They are giving it a bad name'."

He said he was merely reporting the words of local residents who were suffering financially because of the dip in tourism following Madeleine's disappearance.

He added: "There were a lot of people who lost a lot of money since all this

Saturday will be the 100th day since Madeleine's disappearance. The family are expected to mark the grim milestone with a series of events, including a special Catholic prayer service in Praia da Luz.

In England, Premier League football clubs will play a video reminding fans that Madeleine is still missing.